Phil. iii. 17, 20. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample .... For our conversation is in heaven.
GREAT is the force of example, either to vitiate or improve the morals of those around us. There are few, even of real Christians, who do not, in some
considerable degree, yield to its influence. The church at Philippi was, on the whole, distinguished for its attainments : yet even there, hypocrisy was found, and error had its advocates. The example of some worldly and sensual professors was likely to prove extremely injurious: while therefore the Apostle declares his grief occasioned by their misconduct, he exhorts the Church to unite in following rather the example that he had set them, and to notice with approbation all who conducted themselves agreeably to his advice.
The words that are in verses 18 and 19, being in- cluded in a parenthesis, those which are united in the text are properly connected with each other. In discoursing on them, we shall consider,
I. The Apostle's example —
St. Paul considered himself as a citizen of heaven3 —
[To be a citizen of Rome was deemed a high honour ; and it was an honour which Paul possessed by virtue of his being a native of Tarsus, on which city this privilege had been con- ferred1'. But Paul's name was enrolled in a more glorious city, even in heaven itself c. He belonged to the society of saints and angels, who were united under Christ, their com- mon headd: and he had a communion with them in all their honours, their interests, and their enjoyments e.]
In the exercise of his rights, he had his daily con- verse in heaven —
[As a person is daily conversant with that society to which he belongs, maintaining fellowship with them, and ordering his life according to their rules, so the Apostle lived, as it were, in heaven : his thoughts and affections were there continually : and he was emulating those around the throne by his constant endeavours to glorify God, and by walking habitually in the light of his countenance.]
While he mentions his example, he shews us,
II. The use that we should make of it —
We should imitate him ourselves — [We are already joined to the society in heaven f, pro- vided we be united unto Christ by faith : and it behoves us to
a UoXiTEvjjia tujwv might have been translated our citizenship. b Acts xxii. 28. c Luke x. 20.
d Eph. i. 10. and hi. 15. e Eph. ii. 6. f Heb. xii. 22, 23.